Other interesting information came out of the release of the lists from PERS.

For example, the $100,000 club is less than 1 percent of the system's 105,000 retirees. But those big earners take home with an outsize share – 3.4 percent – of the system's annual $2.99 billion in benefits paid out.

There is sizeable chasm between the system's top earners and the rank and file. About 68 percent receive $3, 000 or less a month – $36,000 or less a year. Only 17.6 percent earn more than $50,000 a year.